Hand hygiene and Skin Health

It is estimated that only 5% of people wash their hands correctly. This implies that 95% of people do not wash their hands – long enough to kill germs.

As we celebrate the Global Handwashing day, it is important to note that, hand hygiene is a critical aspect of human safety. In fact, it is the single most important measure one can take to help prevent the spread of infection including impetigo, measles, eczema, rashes, e.t.c

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this is the correct technique to follow when washing your hands

1. First, run clean water (warm or cold) over your hands and turn off the tap.

2. Next, apply soap and lather your hands by rubbing them together. Avoid focusing only on your palms by making sure to lather behind your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

3. The scrubbing process should take place for at least 20 seconds to get rid of germs. To time yourself, scrub for as long as it takes to hum the song “Happy Birthday” two times.

4. Run clean water over your hands again and rinse the soap off.

5. Use a clean towel to dry your hands afterward. If you don’t have access to one, air dry your hands before using them.